W. R. Berkley Corporation
- Open
- 70.92
- Day high
- 71.32
- Day low
- 70.36
- Prev close
- 71.01
- Volume
- 1.4M
- Mkt cap
- $26.3B
- P/E (TTM)
- 14.9
- EPS (TTM)
- $4.74
- P/B
- 2.7
- P/S
- 1.8
- Yield
- 0.98%
- Per share
- $0.69
W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) is a Financial Services company listed on NYSE. The stock is down 3% over the past year.
W. R. Berkley Corporation (WRB) financials & analyst ratings
Fundamentals (TTM)
Analyst consensus · 11 analysts
Source: exchange market data + company filings. Figures are trailing-twelve-month or as most recently reported. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
WRB earnings date, history & EPS estimates
| Report date | EPS est | EPS actual | Surprise | Revenue | Rev. surprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 2026 | $1.13 | $1.30 | +15.0% | $3.1B | -2.4% |
| Jan 26, 2026 | $1.14 | $1.13 | -0.9% | $3.7B | +16.0% |
| Oct 20, 2025 | $1.11 | $1.10 | -0.9% | $3.8B | +19.5% |
| Jul 21, 2025 | $1.03 | $1.05 | +1.9% | $3.7B | +18.4% |
| Jan 27, 2025 | $0.96 | $1.13 | +17.8% | $3.7B | +25.0% |
| Oct 21, 2024 | $0.92 | $0.93 | +1.1% | $3.4B | +16.2% |
| Jul 22, 2024 | $0.92 | $1.04 | +13.0% | $3.3B | +16.5% |
| Jan 24, 2024 | $0.90 | $0.97 | +7.8% | $3.2B | -0.7% |
| Jul 20, 2023 | $0.71 | $0.76 | +7.0% | $3.0B | -2.7% |
| Apr 20, 2023 | $0.79 | $0.67 | -15.2% | $2.9B | +0.8% |
| Jan 26, 2023 | $0.71 | $0.77 | +8.5% | $3.0B | +19.0% |
| Jul 21, 2022 | $0.56 | $0.75 | +33.9% | $2.6B | +9.9% |
WRB insider trading activity (SEC Form 4)
| Date | Insider | Type | Shares | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 4, 2026 | Farrell Mary Cdirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Mosley Daniel Lynndirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | BLAYLOCK RONALD Edirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Rusbuldt Robert Alandirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Talisman Jonathandirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | BERKLEY WILLIAM Rdirector, 10 percent owner, officer: Executive Chairman | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Augostini Christopher Ldirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Mattson Marie Angeladirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | BERKLEY WILLIAM R JRdirector, officer: President and CEO | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Ferre Maria Luisadirector | Grant | 3,090 | — |
| Mar 3, 2026 | MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO LTD10 percent owner | Buy | 73,185 | $72.52 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO LTD10 percent owner | Buy | 100,897 | $73.20 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO LTD10 percent owner | Buy | 45,103 | $72.29 |
| Mar 3, 2026 | MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO LTD10 percent owner | Buy | 38,991 | $71.60 |
| Feb 27, 2026 | MITSUI SUMITOMO INSURANCE CO LTD10 percent owner | Buy | 145,491 | $71.65 |
Source: WRB SEC Form 4 filings, latest Jun 4, 2026. For informational purposes only — not investment advice.
See the full WRB insider & 13F page →W. R. Berkley Corporation company profile
Overview
W. R. Berkley Corporation (NYSE:WRB) is a specialty insurance holding company founded in 1967 and headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut. The company has been publicly traded since 1973 and operates as a commercial lines writer across the United States and internationally. Over its nearly six-decade history, Berkley has evolved into a diversified specialty insurance provider focused on underwriting discipline and risk-adjusted returns, serving both traditional commercial insurance markets and the excess and surplus (E&S) specialty insurance sector.
Business
W. R. Berkley Corporation operates in the property and casualty insurance industry, which provides coverage for businesses and individuals against various risks including property damage, liability claims, and other potential losses. The company operates through two primary business segments: **Insurance Segment (approximately 85-90% of revenue):** This segment underwrites commercial insurance business across multiple specialized lines. Key offerings include premises operations coverage, commercial automobile insurance, property insurance, products liability, and general and professional liability lines. The company also provides workers' compensation insurance, accident and health insurance, specialized environmental coverage for contractors and property owners, fine arts and jewelry insurance, umbrella and excess liability coverage, and liquor liability insurance. Additionally, this segment offers directors and officers insurance, surety products, cyber risk solutions, casualty insurance, and personal lines solutions including home, auto, and collectibles insurance. **Reinsurance & Monoline Excess Segment (approximately 10-15% of revenue):** This segment provides other insurance companies and self-insureds with risk management assistance through reinsurance arrangements. Reinsurance is essentially "insurance for insurance companies" - it allows primary insurers to transfer portions of their risk to reinsurers, helping them manage their exposure to large losses. The segment offers both treaty reinsurance (covering entire portfolios of policies) and facultative reinsurance (covering individual risks on a case-by-case basis). The company particularly focuses on the excess and surplus (E&S) market, which serves risks that standard insurance companies cannot or will not cover due to their unusual nature, size, or complexity. This specialty market typically commands higher premiums due to the unique risks involved.
Competitive moat
W. R. Berkley's competitive moat stems from several key factors, though it operates in a fundamentally competitive industry. The company's primary advantages include its specialized underwriting expertise and deep knowledge of niche insurance markets, particularly in the excess and surplus sector where standard insurers cannot compete effectively. This specialization allows the company to price risks more accurately and serve markets with limited competition. The company's financial strength and stability, demonstrated through consistent profitability and strong capital ratios, provides a competitive advantage when competing for business with agents and brokers who need assurance that claims will be paid. W. R. Berkley's disciplined underwriting culture and willingness to walk away from unprofitable business during soft market cycles has historically allowed it to maintain better margins than competitors. However, the insurance industry faces structural challenges that limit moat strength. Regulatory barriers provide some protection through licensing requirements and capital standards, but well-capitalized competitors can enter most markets. The company competes with both large national insurers and smaller specialty players, and pricing discipline across the industry can erode during soft market cycles. The rise of insurtech companies and alternative capital sources (such as catastrophe bonds and insurance-linked securities) present potential disruption, particularly in property catastrophe reinsurance. Additionally, the company's success depends heavily on maintaining underwriting discipline and accurate risk assessment, which requires continuous adaptation to changing loss trends, regulatory environments, and economic conditions. While W. R. Berkley has demonstrated strong execution historically, the cyclical nature of insurance markets means competitive advantages can be temporary.
Risks & safety
W. R. Berkley demonstrates a strong financial position with significant margin of safety: **Liquidity and Solvency:** - Strong cash position of $1.7 billion and current ratio of 51.5x indicating excellent short-term liquidity - Debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, representing manageable leverage levels - Consistent positive operating cash flow of $744 million in Q1 2025 and $3.7 billion for full year 2024 - No significant solvency concerns given strong capital base and regulatory capital requirements **Valuation Metrics:** - Trading at P/E ratio of 16.9x based on recent earnings - Price-to-book ratio of 3.2x, reasonable for a profitable specialty insurer - EV/EBITDA of 13.9x, within typical range for quality insurers - Graham number suggests intrinsic value around $23, though insurance companies require different valuation approaches **Other Considerations:** - Strong return on equity of 19.9% annualized demonstrates efficient capital deployment - Combined ratio of 90.9% indicates profitable underwriting operations - Diversified revenue streams across multiple insurance lines and geographies provide stability - Regulatory capital requirements provide additional safety buffer for policyholders and shareholders
Recent development
Over the past few years, W. R. Berkley has pursued several strategic initiatives while maintaining its core focus on underwriting discipline. The company has expanded its presence in the excess and surplus market, capitalizing on opportunities created by standard market constraints and regulatory limitations. This expansion has been particularly notable in liability lines where social inflation has driven many standard insurers to reduce capacity. The company has made significant investments in technology and digital capabilities, including cyber risk solutions to address the growing demand for cyber insurance coverage. W. R. Berkley has also enhanced its personal lines business through Berkley One, which targets high-net-worth individuals with specialized coverage for homes, automobiles, and collectibles. In terms of capital management, the company has returned substantial capital to shareholders through a combination of regular dividends, special dividends, and share repurchases, totaling over $1 billion in 2024. The company has also been extending the duration of its investment portfolio to capitalize on higher interest rates, moving from 2.4 years to 2.5 years while maintaining its AA- credit quality focus. Strategically, W. R. Berkley has maintained a selective approach to growth, targeting 10-15% annual premium growth while walking away from unprofitable business. The company has been particularly cautious in workers' compensation due to competitive pricing, while remaining opportunistic in property and specialty casualty lines. Recent quarters have shown the company taking a more defensive posture in certain market segments while continuing to grow in areas where it can achieve adequate risk-adjusted returns.
WRB company profile · for informational purposes only — not investment advice.
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